Sports Betting Blog

Greyhound betting an alternative to horse racing

Ask anyone who has been for a night at the dogs and they will tell you that it is an exciting and fun experience, with races coming thick and fast and greyhounds flying round the track at breakneck speed.It is not for everyone, however, and those of a more equine persuasion will prefer the sights and sounds on offer at Cheltenham or Ascot to those at Crayford.Picking a winner in either sport is tough but there are only six runners in dog racing, meaning the odds are usually much more in the punters’ favour than in horse racing.Returns will not be so big but, with 12 or even 14 races on a card, there are plenty of chances to win and to come away from the track with something to show for your efforts.Many punters deal exclusively in forecasts or reverse forecasts, when the pay-outs are significantly bigger but, as it is already tough to select the first dog home, getting the first two is a real bonus.There is help available, however, when trying to make a selection, with these free greyhound tips on offer to nudge you in the right direction plus tips and selections in the daily racing publications.Races are over in 30 to 40 seconds and so greyhound racing is perfect for those who like quick returns rather than watching horses slug it out over three-and-a-half miles.With so many races in a relatively short space of time, it is not necessary to lump huge sums on any particular contest especially if you follow the mantra of ‘bet small, lose small’.Therefore, even after suffering a night with few or no winners, you will still be able to eat the next day.There are obviously drawbacks when betting on greyhounds as the nature of the sport means that results will not always go to form.With six animals converging on the first bend at a rapid rate it is inevitable that there are bumps and it is not uncommon to see the favourite bowled over onto its back and out of the race after just a few seconds.It is just part and parcel of dog racing and a case of ‘onwards and upwards’ to the next contest, while it is a similar situation with Nation Hunt racing and hurdling.Fences have got in the way of many a potential winner and it is no less frustrating in the Grand National then it is in the Greyhound Derby.Horse racing is termed the Sport of Kings and there is a sense that greyhound racing is considered a poor cousin of a sport backed by the royal family, while it has also been hit by the closure of several key venues as developers move in to build on prime land.But it is part of the fabric of Britain and, despite the brickbats hurled its way in recent times, it is here to stay and remains an exciting sport to bet on.